Self-Help Ventures Fund, one of the oldest and largest community development financial institutions (CDFIs) in the U.S., has received a high independent rating from the CDFI Assessment and Rating System (CARS).

Self-Help received a AAA +2 rating. The letter part of the rating measures the group's social impact, or how well it's meeting its mission, with AAA being the highest. The numerical part of the rating, which ranges from a high of 1 to a low of 5, measures financial strength and performance.

Since its founding in 1980, the Durham, N.C.-based Self-Help has invested $5.95 billion through nearly 70,000 community development loans and mortgages to families, individuals and organizations. It has offices in North Carolina, California and Washington, D.C.

CARS is an independent project of the Opportunity Finance Network, a national network of more than 170 private financial institutions. During the first six months of 2011, CARS released ratings opinions on 33 CDFI loan funds. CARS is led by Executive Vice President Paige Chapel, who has worked in community development and development finance since 1978. CARS advisory board members are from companies that include JP Morgan Chase Bank, Christian Brothers Investment Services, Bank of America, Ford Foundation, Calvert Foundation, Fannie Mae Corp. and others.